5 parliamentary elections, described the root cause of the conflict in Zimbabwe as “a crisis of governance”, other observers have seen it differently. The Zimbabwe government reckon it as a result of imperialist machinations by Britain and America who want to effect illegal regime change to make sure the redistributed land is handed back to minority white farmers. The MDC shares the CCJP view of illegitimacy of the President and government as the major cause of the crisis. They relate the crisis to the “fraudulent 2002 presidential election” and the subsequent repressive laws and actions that have been put in place by the government to legitimise itself as the major cause of the crisis. (iv) Failure by neighbours to completely condemn the crisis. The major problem faced by efforts to resolve conflicts in Southern Africa, especially where a former liberation (revolutionary) party is involved is the issue of camaraderie which makes it difficult for neighbouring states to condemn undemocratic practices by neighbouring states. It is unfortunate that instruments like the South African Observer Mission failed to come out public in condemnation of the presidential election in 2002 choosing to be vague about their final assessment of the plebiscite. In his final assessment, the head of the observer team, Sam Motsuenyane, concluded that, “…the outcome of the 2002 Zimbabwe presidential elections should be considered legitimate...[But] we cannot openly describe it as free and fair." This failure to come up with a direct description of the election, choosing to use euphemism, emanates from the spirit of camaraderie between the South African government and its Zimbabwean counterpart. Unfortunately, such brotherly overtones, create situations where managing election-related conflicts difficult. (v) International, Regional Protocols Vs Domestic Laws A major issue that makes it difficult to resolve conflicts, or manage them is the issue of sovereignty of nation states which, unfortunately, in some circumstances, have meant that various protocols and other regional instruments acceded to by member states cease to be binding in view of local laws. In Zimbabwe, all the protocols, conventions and any other instrument, regional or international that the country signed are not binding in view of the provision of section 111B of the country’s constitution which stipulates that, “no international treaty, covenant or agreement signed and ratified by the